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Mike Walsh Detective Novels #1
The Execution of Justice
MIKE WALSH is a young Patrol Officer with the Indianapolis Police Department. On a frigid, snowy Christmas Eve, he and his partner are dispatched to a domestic dispute. As they arrive shots pierce the still air, his partner is seriously wounded. A derranged gunman stands at the door; gun in one hand, holding a little girl hostage with the other. Arriving Police units and Fire-Rescue can do nothing but watch the unfolding drama. Walsh crawls on his belly to place himself between his fallen partner, then stands to face the gunman, with his gun in hand. After several tense moments, he succeeds in talking the man into surrendering and releasing his child-hostage. Walsh's partner is rushed to the hospital. His heroic act leads to his promotion to Detective in the elite Robbery-Homicide Division, where he is partnered with his one-time mentor, Detective Sergeant Jack Lovell. In the ensuing months, they handle a variety of cases; armed robberies, and a couple of murders. Walsh finds that the hours required of being a detective are much longer than being on patrol. His marriage begins to suffer, and his alcohol intake increases. He and his partner, Lovell are assigned the case of a vicious gang of armed robbers. With no real clues to follow, victims' and witnesses' descriptions that are strange and conflicting, the gang is on a spree and they become more violent with each crime, resulting in the cold-blooded murder of a Brinks Armored Guard. In a subsequent bank robbery, memebrs of the gang get involved in a shoot-out with an off-duty cop. He wounds one of the fleeing suspects, who begs for help from his cohort, the gunman shoots him in the head. The slain robber is identified, and provides Lovell and Walsh with their first solid lead to the gang's identities. Lovell and Walsh asemble a team of detectives and uniformed officers for backup and carefully plan a raid of three dwellings, where they have a tip the gang members are hiding out. Lovell plans the raid to be executed simultaneously in the pre-dawn hours of a cold December morning, just two weeks before Christmas. Tragedy is about to strike the team, and Walsh's life is turned upside-down. He is forced to make changes, both professionally and personally. Will he survive?
408 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2009
2 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Michael Phelps
5Ìýbooks40ÌýfollowersMy name is Michael Phelps. NO (sorry to disappoint), I am NOT the young, good-looking, talented, Olympic Champion. I am the (NOT so) young, (NOT at all) good-looking, (YES) talented, (NOT) an Olympic Champion. I am an Author.
While engaged as Chief Investigator for a prominent Miami (FL) Law firm which specialized in criminal defense I Co-authored "DAVID JANSSEN-MY FUGITIVE" with the iconic actor's first wife, Ellie Janssen. Published in December, 1994 in Hardcover, with Paperback Editions following in 1995, 1996 & 1997 the book sold in excess of 1.2 Million copies world-wide. Upon retiring from the law firm, I chose to embark on the challenging career of becoming an Author. I promised myself never to co-author a book with anyone, especially the ex-wife of a celebrity. I chose to write about something I know well; Police & Detective novels and Court room trials, murder and mayhem.
My debut novel, "THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE" is based on the murder of a close friend and one time mentor of mine, Detective Sergeant Jack Orhberg, Robbery & Homicide Unit of the Indianapolis Police Department. Jack was brutally murdered on December 11, 1980. Published in Hardcover by Blue Line Publishing House, Inc. on January 30, 2009 and E-book format in July of 2010. In this novel I created the "Mike Walsh Detective Novels" series. In July of 2012 I released "THE JOCKEY'S JUSTICE", the second in the "Mike Walsh Detective Novels" series. It is based on the murder of a winning horse racing Jockey, a case I worked on for the law firm.
I have just completed a long journey into the past with my friend DAVID JANSSEN. My Memoir, "DAVID JANSSEN-Our Conversations, VOLUME ONE-The Early Years (1965-1972) and VOLUME TWO, The Final Years (1973-1980) are now available exclusively on Amazon Kindle. Softcover Editions are in the print process now. A Hardcover Edition is available by Special Order.
Please visit my website to examine all my works.
Thank you for your time and interest.
While engaged as Chief Investigator for a prominent Miami (FL) Law firm which specialized in criminal defense I Co-authored "DAVID JANSSEN-MY FUGITIVE" with the iconic actor's first wife, Ellie Janssen. Published in December, 1994 in Hardcover, with Paperback Editions following in 1995, 1996 & 1997 the book sold in excess of 1.2 Million copies world-wide. Upon retiring from the law firm, I chose to embark on the challenging career of becoming an Author. I promised myself never to co-author a book with anyone, especially the ex-wife of a celebrity. I chose to write about something I know well; Police & Detective novels and Court room trials, murder and mayhem.
My debut novel, "THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE" is based on the murder of a close friend and one time mentor of mine, Detective Sergeant Jack Orhberg, Robbery & Homicide Unit of the Indianapolis Police Department. Jack was brutally murdered on December 11, 1980. Published in Hardcover by Blue Line Publishing House, Inc. on January 30, 2009 and E-book format in July of 2010. In this novel I created the "Mike Walsh Detective Novels" series. In July of 2012 I released "THE JOCKEY'S JUSTICE", the second in the "Mike Walsh Detective Novels" series. It is based on the murder of a winning horse racing Jockey, a case I worked on for the law firm.
I have just completed a long journey into the past with my friend DAVID JANSSEN. My Memoir, "DAVID JANSSEN-Our Conversations, VOLUME ONE-The Early Years (1965-1972) and VOLUME TWO, The Final Years (1973-1980) are now available exclusively on Amazon Kindle. Softcover Editions are in the print process now. A Hardcover Edition is available by Special Order.
Please visit my website to examine all my works.
Thank you for your time and interest.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 23, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I find myself drawn to crime fiction, particularly stories about cops and homicide investigations.
Michael Phelps has created a great story about a new Robbery-Homicide Detective, Mike Walsh. He weaves you through the day-to-day life as a cop, trials and tribulations of the job in real time, crimes on the street, and his personal life. You really get the feeling that you’re there riding along with Detective Walsh in the investigation, and you can actually feel the pressure and excitement of cop life. Things start to unravel and there are plenty of surprises to keep you engaged and interested in what’s going to happen next.
It’s a great read! I recommend this book to anyone who’s enjoys crime fiction and has an interest or curiosity in police life. I look forward to the next installment of Detective Mike Walsh.
Michael Phelps has created a great story about a new Robbery-Homicide Detective, Mike Walsh. He weaves you through the day-to-day life as a cop, trials and tribulations of the job in real time, crimes on the street, and his personal life. You really get the feeling that you’re there riding along with Detective Walsh in the investigation, and you can actually feel the pressure and excitement of cop life. Things start to unravel and there are plenty of surprises to keep you engaged and interested in what’s going to happen next.
It’s a great read! I recommend this book to anyone who’s enjoys crime fiction and has an interest or curiosity in police life. I look forward to the next installment of Detective Mike Walsh.
December 20, 2012
This was the first time reading a police procedural and Michael Phelps has the world of a law enforcement officer nailed. From the opening scenes, I was drawn into a world which took me into the life of Mike Walsh, a police officer, seeing him on the job and as he was at home.
I looked on as he was later promoted to detective and cheered that he received such a promotion. I wondered about the challenges he would face in his new role, how his life would change and I didn't have long to wait.
Mike Walsh took me through everything he experienced. He made me laugh. He took me to some interesting places and I met some characters I'd rather not encounter in real life. He shared his emotions with me and, sometimes, he tugged at my heartstrings so much that he made me cry, especially after the death of a mentor and close friend, which mirrored a personal loss in the author's own life.
All in all, even if I didn't know anything about Phelps' background, I would have known he was a cop when I began reading The Execution of Justice because of his attention to detail - the kind of detail that took me through every part of his life, from one moment to the next.
Phelps even uses "cop talk" in his writing. You'll notice that there are many commas instead of periods, especially during conversations, but it's intentional to remind us exactly how cops speak to each other. Their sentences run together as they get their thoughts out as quickly as they can, especially during a crisis.
For anyone who would like to see what it's like to live the life of a law enforcement officer on a daily basis, to truly appreciate the risks they take each and every day, this is one of the best books you will find on the subject.
I looked on as he was later promoted to detective and cheered that he received such a promotion. I wondered about the challenges he would face in his new role, how his life would change and I didn't have long to wait.
Mike Walsh took me through everything he experienced. He made me laugh. He took me to some interesting places and I met some characters I'd rather not encounter in real life. He shared his emotions with me and, sometimes, he tugged at my heartstrings so much that he made me cry, especially after the death of a mentor and close friend, which mirrored a personal loss in the author's own life.
All in all, even if I didn't know anything about Phelps' background, I would have known he was a cop when I began reading The Execution of Justice because of his attention to detail - the kind of detail that took me through every part of his life, from one moment to the next.
Phelps even uses "cop talk" in his writing. You'll notice that there are many commas instead of periods, especially during conversations, but it's intentional to remind us exactly how cops speak to each other. Their sentences run together as they get their thoughts out as quickly as they can, especially during a crisis.
For anyone who would like to see what it's like to live the life of a law enforcement officer on a daily basis, to truly appreciate the risks they take each and every day, this is one of the best books you will find on the subject.
February 28, 2016
Mike Walsh is promoted to Detective in the elite Robbery-Homicide Division of the Indianapolis Police Department which means more money but also more and longer hours. As he and his partner, Jack, get more and more involved in solving several armed robberies and serial killer cases, his marriage is under strain........and when the pressure mounts something has to give.
Michael Phelps debut novel is full of police procedures which he seems to know quite well, but my main problem was that everyone was so nice! Even some of the bad guys. It was just too unrealistic to believe that no-one had any flaws or had anything bad to say about anyone else, and nobody argued, they just seemed to agree with everyone, there was no shouting.
Also, there was too much trivia, I knew every breakfast and dinner meal that Mike and his wife ate, every item of clothing that Mike wore, the exact time he got up, what they watched on TV every evening and what time they went to bed. Too much information! It just clogged up the book and was quite boring to read.
So, while this was not a page turner of a book it did have plenty of good points. I liked the storyline overall, the gradual build up to the search for the armed robbers was quite exciting, it was certainly easy to follow what was happening, no complicated plotline here. As the characters were so well described I felt like I knew them and I was sad when Mike's marriage was in trouble. This is a good crime fiction detective story by someone who knows what he's talking about!
Michael Phelps debut novel is full of police procedures which he seems to know quite well, but my main problem was that everyone was so nice! Even some of the bad guys. It was just too unrealistic to believe that no-one had any flaws or had anything bad to say about anyone else, and nobody argued, they just seemed to agree with everyone, there was no shouting.
Also, there was too much trivia, I knew every breakfast and dinner meal that Mike and his wife ate, every item of clothing that Mike wore, the exact time he got up, what they watched on TV every evening and what time they went to bed. Too much information! It just clogged up the book and was quite boring to read.
So, while this was not a page turner of a book it did have plenty of good points. I liked the storyline overall, the gradual build up to the search for the armed robbers was quite exciting, it was certainly easy to follow what was happening, no complicated plotline here. As the characters were so well described I felt like I knew them and I was sad when Mike's marriage was in trouble. This is a good crime fiction detective story by someone who knows what he's talking about!
July 1, 2009
It's NOT FAIR for me to say what I think . . . I wrote it! It is based on the true story of the murder of a close friend and one-time mentor, a Detective Sergeant in the Robbery-Homicide Unit of the Indianapolis Police Department. The first in the "Detective Mike Walsh" series of novels. Cops & Robbers, Mayhem & Murders, this book has it all, in graphic details.
February 7, 2013
J.D. Michael Phelps draws down on crime with an absorbing debut novel that focuses like a laser sight on Mike Walsh: An Indianapolis patrolman whose hair-raising hostage stand-off on Christmas Eve makes the news--and him, an instant detective. But what is many a patrolman's dream dissolves into a bitter nightmare, as a string of crimes--each more gruesome and sadistic than the one before--pushes Walsh to the brink of marital and mental breakdown.
While this sounds like a sure-fire, Indy 500-paced formula for action and suspense, Phelps boldly shifts gears and--sometimes with the descriptive briliance of Capote and Wambaugh--chooses a deliberate plot that instead takes in every detail of detective work. There's more emphasis on mundane deskwork, politics, and intelligence gathering than high-speed chases and gunplay. Nevertheless, Phelps gets high marks for creating a strong set of three-dimensional, accessible characters who, despite personal adversities, uphold justice, and stifle lawlessness. Though most of the characters' moments in the sun are short-lived (as ever-increasing criminality clouds their happiness), it counts towards Phelps's drive for realism.
But the novel's weakness is that it too often gets stuck in that rut of realism. While "based on a true story", it's still fiction. As such, Phelps needed to take more license and make the overall plot as thrilling as its opening. Perhaps by narrowing the detectives' search to one criminal, instead of detailing several. There needed to be one seemingly unstoppable monster that panicked the population. One that threatened Mike's every thought, breath, and heartbeat. A cunning criminal whose wrath forced the uneasy alliances Mike made with snitches and ex-cons on lesser cases, and wedged estrangement between husband and wife (when duty calls at all hours of the night). Instead, when the moment that changes Mike's future arrives, it's rather ho-hum. A graphic event, but lowered to just one of many occupational hazards that are intricately (and sometimes clinically) described throughout the novel. There isn't a consistent level of raw, gut-wrenching suspense that a captivating, cat-and-mouse case provides.
But, a win is a win. And while "The Execution of Justice" isn't a thin blue bout that delivers page-after-page of knockout punches to crime, it ultimately wins my respect because of author Phelps's honorable attempt to educate AND entertain his readers. He takes his time sizing up crime and punishment through the crosshairs, instead of delivering a quick, electrifying taser of a tale that (it can be argued) is too-often told in modern police procedurals.
While this sounds like a sure-fire, Indy 500-paced formula for action and suspense, Phelps boldly shifts gears and--sometimes with the descriptive briliance of Capote and Wambaugh--chooses a deliberate plot that instead takes in every detail of detective work. There's more emphasis on mundane deskwork, politics, and intelligence gathering than high-speed chases and gunplay. Nevertheless, Phelps gets high marks for creating a strong set of three-dimensional, accessible characters who, despite personal adversities, uphold justice, and stifle lawlessness. Though most of the characters' moments in the sun are short-lived (as ever-increasing criminality clouds their happiness), it counts towards Phelps's drive for realism.
But the novel's weakness is that it too often gets stuck in that rut of realism. While "based on a true story", it's still fiction. As such, Phelps needed to take more license and make the overall plot as thrilling as its opening. Perhaps by narrowing the detectives' search to one criminal, instead of detailing several. There needed to be one seemingly unstoppable monster that panicked the population. One that threatened Mike's every thought, breath, and heartbeat. A cunning criminal whose wrath forced the uneasy alliances Mike made with snitches and ex-cons on lesser cases, and wedged estrangement between husband and wife (when duty calls at all hours of the night). Instead, when the moment that changes Mike's future arrives, it's rather ho-hum. A graphic event, but lowered to just one of many occupational hazards that are intricately (and sometimes clinically) described throughout the novel. There isn't a consistent level of raw, gut-wrenching suspense that a captivating, cat-and-mouse case provides.
But, a win is a win. And while "The Execution of Justice" isn't a thin blue bout that delivers page-after-page of knockout punches to crime, it ultimately wins my respect because of author Phelps's honorable attempt to educate AND entertain his readers. He takes his time sizing up crime and punishment through the crosshairs, instead of delivering a quick, electrifying taser of a tale that (it can be argued) is too-often told in modern police procedurals.
July 14, 2009
I had a hard time reading this one. I kept putting it aside and then coming back to it. It didn't have enough "pull" to keep me reading. Yet, it made me curious to see how it ended or if it got better, so I kept at it. However, I'd like to have seen more suspense and a lot less setting detail.
As I read this, I couldn't help but feel like I was reading someones journal or diary. It's written in that type of style. I know what he wore everyday, I know that he let his dogs outside every morning and I know what time he went to bed every night. Some of that information didn't seem necessary as part of the story or setting and became annoying. I felt myself skimming at the start and end of each chapter which was where most of this information was located.
I did like the view point in relation to the job. I found the investigations interesting and the way that cops and detectives approach certain situations. It was a little eye-opening to know that investigators sometimes have multiple cases going on and their working hours are not what most people think. It also confirmed for me why cops seem to have high divorce rates. The hours are grueling and the stress high. So the parts of the story about his home life probably reflect many homes in the U.S.
Overall, it was an okay book for me. I wasn't wowed by anything and wasn't on the edge of my seat, but the author's writing was good.
As I read this, I couldn't help but feel like I was reading someones journal or diary. It's written in that type of style. I know what he wore everyday, I know that he let his dogs outside every morning and I know what time he went to bed every night. Some of that information didn't seem necessary as part of the story or setting and became annoying. I felt myself skimming at the start and end of each chapter which was where most of this information was located.
I did like the view point in relation to the job. I found the investigations interesting and the way that cops and detectives approach certain situations. It was a little eye-opening to know that investigators sometimes have multiple cases going on and their working hours are not what most people think. It also confirmed for me why cops seem to have high divorce rates. The hours are grueling and the stress high. So the parts of the story about his home life probably reflect many homes in the U.S.
Overall, it was an okay book for me. I wasn't wowed by anything and wasn't on the edge of my seat, but the author's writing was good.
May 23, 2012
Michael Phelps has written a story that takes us into the actual lives of the people in law enforcement. As a former military policeman and private investigator, it’s obvious he has lived thru similar circumstances, and knows what he is talking about.
The story follows Mike Walsh, a young policeman who is promoted to detective. It not only accurately depicts the life-threatening risks to lawmen, but also the less exciting everyday routine involved in solving crimes, and the toll their chosen profession takes on their personal lives. This is not an action adventure where the hero fights non-stop and wipes out crime singlehandedly � it’s a thoughtful drama about the true nature of police work and the people who choose to do it. Mike Walsh is a real person who loves, laughs, hurts, and cries like the rest of us. He is heartbroken and sobs openly over the death of a comrade, drinks himself into oblivion over the death of his marriage, and is scared out of his wits when the lead starts flying near him. He’s not Superman, and he can’t fix his own problems, much less the world’s; he can only do his best day after day after day.
Enlightening and entertaining, this book is well worth reading, and deserves a five-star rating. There are some editing and formatting problems in the Kindle edition, but the story is a solid in-depth view of a world few of us see or understand. I highly recommend.
The story follows Mike Walsh, a young policeman who is promoted to detective. It not only accurately depicts the life-threatening risks to lawmen, but also the less exciting everyday routine involved in solving crimes, and the toll their chosen profession takes on their personal lives. This is not an action adventure where the hero fights non-stop and wipes out crime singlehandedly � it’s a thoughtful drama about the true nature of police work and the people who choose to do it. Mike Walsh is a real person who loves, laughs, hurts, and cries like the rest of us. He is heartbroken and sobs openly over the death of a comrade, drinks himself into oblivion over the death of his marriage, and is scared out of his wits when the lead starts flying near him. He’s not Superman, and he can’t fix his own problems, much less the world’s; he can only do his best day after day after day.
Enlightening and entertaining, this book is well worth reading, and deserves a five-star rating. There are some editing and formatting problems in the Kindle edition, but the story is a solid in-depth view of a world few of us see or understand. I highly recommend.
June 8, 2012
"The Execution of Justice" by Michael Phelps is an extremely realistic police story. Having spent my entire life in and around law enforcement, I was very impressed with the authenticity of this story. For a work of fiction, it comes across as very real. We follow Detective Mike Walsh through his first year as a homicide detective and see how the career move impacts his professional and personal life. I grew to know and like these characters.
There were several interesting quirks in this novel that I grew to enjoy as the story progressed. I won't spoil it by stating them, but I think you'll notice as you read. Certain details are included regularly that I first found unusual until I figured out that they were laying a groundwork. They're expanding the characterization. They add a realism that I found well done. Read this book all the way to the end, and I think you'll enjoy it.
This isn't a shoot-em-up thriller. It's the real life of a police officer. Much of the book is spent behind a desk and many of the overtime hours are spent pounding the pavement just like in real police work. This is an excellent debut novel, and I look forward to more work by Michael Phelps. "The Execution of Justice" was worth the read.
There were several interesting quirks in this novel that I grew to enjoy as the story progressed. I won't spoil it by stating them, but I think you'll notice as you read. Certain details are included regularly that I first found unusual until I figured out that they were laying a groundwork. They're expanding the characterization. They add a realism that I found well done. Read this book all the way to the end, and I think you'll enjoy it.
This isn't a shoot-em-up thriller. It's the real life of a police officer. Much of the book is spent behind a desk and many of the overtime hours are spent pounding the pavement just like in real police work. This is an excellent debut novel, and I look forward to more work by Michael Phelps. "The Execution of Justice" was worth the read.
April 28, 2009
Mike Walsh and his partner Jack Lovell are homicide detectives. Jack is the leader and Mike has just been promoted from the patrol division. Jack, of course, starts teaching Mike how to be a detective. Mike is a fast learner and has the knack to be a good detective. The book kept my interest and I enjoyed hearing all the steps involved in solving a crime.
Mike's home life is gone over in too much detail. What did he have for each meal, how did he dress each morning, did he have sex that night or just went to sleep. Conflict with his wife over his job is an important aspect of the novel, but not the mundane details of day to day living.
For a series of Mike Walsh books to have sustaining power, a "hook" needs to be established that would make you look forward to the next one. This book does not establish that.
Mike's home life is gone over in too much detail. What did he have for each meal, how did he dress each morning, did he have sex that night or just went to sleep. Conflict with his wife over his job is an important aspect of the novel, but not the mundane details of day to day living.
For a series of Mike Walsh books to have sustaining power, a "hook" needs to be established that would make you look forward to the next one. This book does not establish that.
October 24, 2009
Cops & Robbers - - - Mayhem & Murders - - - This book has it all from a cop's point of view.
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